Plasticity and canalization in the control of reproduction in the lubber grasshopper |
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Authors: | Hatle John D Borst David W Juliano Steven A |
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Affiliation: | 1 Illinois State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Normal, Illinois 61790-4120 |
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Abstract: | The ability to change reproductive tactics during adult developmentin response to environmental variation is predicted to enhancefitness. Many organisms show phenotypic plasticity early innon-embryonic development, but later exhibit phases of developmentalinflexibility (=canalization). Therefore, we studied reproduction-relatedhormones and proteins and their relationships to plasticityin the Eastern lubber grasshopper. Diet-switching experimentsdemonstrated plasticity early in the egg production cycle, buta switch to canalization late in the cycle. We measured developmentaltiters of 4 hemolymph compounds from single individuals fromadult molt until first oviposition. These 4 compounds were theegg-yolk precursor protein vitellogenin, juvenile hormone (thecentral regulator of insect reproduction), major hemolymph proteins,and ecdysteroids (the arthropod molting hormone that ultimatelyis stored in the egg). Using diet manipulations, we investigatedhow these developmental titers relate to the switch from plasticto canalized egg production. All 4 hemolymph compounds reachedtheir peak levels during the canalized phase, about 12 day beforeoviposition. Diet switches after these peak levels did not affectthe timing to oviposition. Therefore, these peak titers werephysiological events that occurred after the individual committedto laying. We compared these patterns in reproduction to thedevelopment toward adult molt, another major life-history eventin insects. We observed an extended canalized phase before theadult molt. This canalized phase always included a peak of ecdysteroids.The similar patterns in the physiology of these life-historyevents suggested that common limitations may exist in majordevelopmental processes of insects that are directed by hormones. |
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